Himachal Pradesh Chief Minster has announced to hike the pay scale of Medical Officers serving on contract basis in the state.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was speaking on the occasion of inauguration of OPD/IPD, Trauma Centre at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri government medical college and nursing college at Ner Chowk in Mandi district, Shimla on October 21.

During a function organised at the medical college, the Chief Minister launched four new health schemes for the state including Mukhaya Mantri Chikitsa Raahat Kosh, Mukhya Mantri Rajya Swasthya Dekhbhal Yojana, Himachal Pradesh Health Protection Scheme and Telemedicine scheme for Pangi in Chamba district.

Jai Ram Thakur announced to open Atal Medical and Research University at Medical College, Ner Chowk and enhance the monthly pay of medical officers appointed on contract basis by 10,000 rupees and that of specialist medical officers on contract basis by 15,000 rupees per month.

Addressing a public meeting on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that with the starting of this medical college, the people of the area would get specialised medical and emergency services round the clock. He further said that financial assistance would be provided to the patients from 'Mukhaya Mantri Chikitsa Rahat Kosh' who were not covered under social security pension scheme.

He said the people would also be facilitated under 'Mukhaya Mantri Awasthya Dekhbhal Yojana' by increasing the financial assistance from existing provision of 30,000 rupees to five lakh rupees to 175 registered government and private health institutes. Under Himachal Pradesh Universal Health Protection Scheme, the facility for free treatment up to five lakh rupees would be made available.

Earlier, he laid foundation stones of staff quarters of civil hospital and overhead footbridge at Sundernagar. He announced to provide digital X-Ray machine for the hospital besides enhancing the bed capacity from 100 to 150 beds. He also announced 30 lakh rupees for the construction of Mukhya Mantri Bhawan in Balh Constituency and upgrading Middle School Sarkidhar to High School.